FILNER, ROMNEY DISCUSS HELP WITH OLYMPICS BID

San Diego 
The long-shot bid for San Diego and Tijuana to co-host the 2024 Olympics took a step forward with San Diego Mayor Bob Filner saying he met with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney to discuss a possible role for him.

In an appearance before the City Council on Tuesday, Filner said he sat down with Romney on Monday.

“He will be an adviser to our bid,” Filner said. “He has graciously talked about it. I will tell the Republicans on the council, if I had seen him the way I saw this guy yesterday, incredibly down-to-earth and friendly and creative, he would have been president. He didn’t come across that way on television and stuff, but I will tell you he’s an incredibly creative and interesting guy. He wants to help us.”

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, served as president and CEO of the organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. A Romney aide didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Local talk about the Olympics began last month when a U.S. Olympic Committee official said that a Tijuana-San Diego joint effort was on a list of 10 cities that might bid for the summer games. Filner had first floated the idea in February.

Those dreams took a hit after a USOC spokesman said that further review revealed the Olympic Charter precludes different countries from co-hosting. Filner remains undaunted and says the rules could be changed.

The mayor has said that Tijuana and San Diego are in the process of setting up their respective Olympic committees and are preparing a joint announcement soon. Romney, who owns a home in La Jolla, had previously said he would offer advice to Filner but declined to lead the effort.

“Of course, if Boston submits a bid he’s going to have some severed loyalties there, but he’s going to help a great deal,” Filner said Tuesday.